Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Design Patterns - Make the invisible visible

4 Comments:

Where is that bunny Oolong? I have no idea what you are talking about!

Are you saying that when presented with a problem, people will act in accordance with the Golden Rule, taking the problem and relevant data to the proper authority in a position to eliminate or alleviate the problem?

Then are you saying that most people's problems are due to the actions they take within the group of people that they are peers with (their "sphere of influence")?

Perhaps an example of what you are trying to say would help make more sense.

What kind of design pattern would you apply to a life problem to net a solution? Or are you just saying that we can describe the solutions to most of man's problems by defining design patterns for the solutions?

Say... an addict wants to get off drugs so he enters a 12 step program and a support group. Are you saying the 12 step program is a design pattern? It applies to multiple psychological and physiological problems that people have today. Or are you saying there is a more basic design pattern underlying the 12 step program?

So more in a post tomorrow. But here is a start... the basics of what I am saying is simple. People when properly informed will make choices that result in less harm to themselves and others. Put another way, if the true consequences of a person's action were truly apparent to them I contend that most of the time they would make different choices that would result in a lot of our societal and interpersonal issues being resolved. As in I will act differently to make this situation better because of how it will affect me and those around me.

That makes more sense indeed. And I agree. This idea has come up in problem form between me and my mother for years. She needs something to get done before a certain time because of some pressing circumstances but instead of telling me the consequences she just asks that I do the task. More often than not, she is dissappointed because I did not schedule it before it was needed, whereas if I had known about the circumstances it would have been one of the first things that I put on my list.

I wonder though... how does your idea hold up when the consequences of "doing the right thing", that is, what would be best for everyone, would hurt the individual who is "doing the right thing"? Should they be informed of the possible harm to themselves, or should only the positive effect on society be revealed? Do you that people obey the Golden Rule often enough to be given all information all the time? Or that in some cases it is best to keep people in the dark on some issues?Personally, I don't think I will ever trust people in general. I believe that people are too selfish. The best example of this that comes to my mind is driving. I see very few people observing the Golden Rule on the road. And I think driving also serves to prove the point, or at least advance it, that people will act greedily when presented with a choice between serving the greater good or themselves. I see people driving dangerously, distracted, or unlawfully many times each day. How can they be acting for the greater good? They know the consequences of their actions. They know they have the choice of driving in a slower, more inconveniencing safe manner, or a dangerous, self-advancing manner. We know which one they choose.

It is certainly true that people have a strong tendency to act in keeping with their own best interests. And it is also true that in reality people will be unable to deal with information regarding their actions after a certain threshold. However in the vast majority of cirumstances I contend that people will act in accordance with the golden rule if they are made aware of the consequences of their actions. In your example of driving on the highway, if it was made clear to people who drove in such a way that they literally ruined other peoples driving experience I suspect that they would change. Also this point is not about serving the greater good, it is about serving yourself. Treat others as you wish to be treated is about getting what you want by giving what you want.